Absence of sunspots make scientists wonder if they're seeing a calm before a storm of energy

The sun is under scrutiny as never before, thanks to an armada of space telescopes. The results they beam back are portraying our nearest star, and its influence on Earth, in a new light. Sunspots and other clues indicate that the sun's magnetic activity is diminishing and that the sun may even be shrinking. Together, the results hint that something profound is happening inside the sun. The big question is: What?

LINK: www.washingtonpost.com...

I thought this was quite an interesting read. For many ATS'ers most of us have already noticed, and realized SOMETHING is happening in the sun, SOMETHING is going to happen due to the sun in the coming years...whether its the 2012 predictions, the end of the world, second coming...whatever the case... It seems now science is saying the same thing...SOMETHING....is going on with the sun.

Your thoughts?

Here is the story of a large X flare:
" At 11:18 AM on the cloudless morning of Thursday, September 1, 1859, 33-year-old Richard Carrington—widely acknowledged to be one of England's foremost solar astronomers—was in his well-appointed private observatory. Just as usual on every sunny day, his telescope was projecting an 11-inch-wide image of the sun on a screen, and Carrington skillfully drew the sunspots he saw."
See the diagram and full story here:
science.nasa.gov...

The sun was given for signs according to Genesis. But in these days, it had a more frightening role:

Luke 21:25-27 (King James Version)

25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.